ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Workshops organized in 9 districts having Tribal population for creating awareness towards benefits of Fortified Rice
The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today informed that various State Governments including Government of Rajasthan were requested to organize programmes to create awareness on benefits of fortified rice and its positive impact on nutritional security in the tribal areas of the country.
Accordingly, workshops/seminars in 9 districts having tribal population – in the States of Gujarat , Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh , Jharkhand , Madhya Pradesh  and Kerala  were conducted with the involvement of DFPD, FCI and other stakeholders such as Field Experts including Medical Professionals members of Media, prominent personalities, local leaders and Development Partners.
A provision of Administrative/Contingency Cost which inter-alia includes Information, Education, Communication  and Capacity Building to the tune of Rs. 5.00 lakh per district has been made, which is to be borne by the Government of India during the implementation of rice fortification initiative in Phase-II and Phase-III.
With the increased awareness and knowledge about the positive impacts of consumption of fortified rice, during 3rd quarter of FY 2022-23, out of 291 targeted Districts for the implementation in Phase-II, the coverage of implementation has increased to 250 Districts including districts having tribal population. Besides, some States have reported that awareness programme on rice fortification has had a positive impact on the mindset of public in general about the benefits of consumption of fortified rice.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles the demise of Dr. MS Swaminathan
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the death of eminent agriculture scientist, Dr. MS Swaminathan whose "groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for our nation."
The Prime Minister posted a thread on X:
"Deeply saddened by the demise of Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji. At a very critical period in our nation’s history, his groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for our nation.
Beyond his revolutionary contributions to agriculture, Dr. Swaminathan was a powerhouse of innovation and a nurturing mentor to many. His unwavering commitment to research and mentorship has left an indelible mark on countless scientists and innovators.
I will always cherish my conversations with Dr. Swaminathan. His passion to see India progress was exemplary.
His life and work will inspire generations to come. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."
Ministry of Education
IGNOU extended the last date of submitting applications for all programmes till 16th August, for its July 2021 session
Indira Gandhi National Open University  has extended the last date for submitting applications for Fresh Admission/ Re-Registration for all programmes till 16th August, 2021 for its on-going admissions to July 2021 session.
The university is offering Masters and Bachelor Degree programmes in various subjects including Rural Development, Computer Applications, Tourism Studies, English, Hindi, Philosophy, Gandhi and Peace Studies, Education, Public Administration, Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Adult Education, Extension and Development Studies, Gender and Development Studies, Distance Education, Anthropology, Commerce, Social Work, Dietetics and Food Services Management, Counselling and Family Therapy, Library and Information Science, Journalism and Mass communication, Environmental Studies etc. IGNOU is also offering Post Graduate Diploma, Diploma, and Certificate programmes on a wide range of subjects.
Learners who have already registered online for July 2021 admission through IGNOU Online Admission System are advised to login with their username and password and verify the status of their application and remove discrepancies  at the earliest in order to confirm the admission.
For further details contact IGNOU Regional Centre Trivandrum, Rajadhani Building, Killippalam, Karamana. P.O, Thiruvananthapuram 695002, Ph: 0471-2344113/2344120/9447044132 Email: rctrivandrum@ignou.ac.in.
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Ministry of Education
Smt Anita Karwal reviews Special Campaign 2.0
Under the campaign, Departments & its Autonomous Bodies are focusing on Swachhata & reducing pendency in Government
Smt Anita Karwal, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, today i.e. 21.10.2022 chaired a meeting with all Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, DS/Director level officers and Heads of Autonomous Bodies of this Department to review the achievements and progress of the ongoing Special Campaign 2.0, launched on Gandhi Jayanti, 2nd October which will go on till 31st Oct. The Special Campaign 2.0 reinforces the importance of timely disposal of references and a clean work space.
The Special Campaign 2.0 is being carried out in two phases- Preparatory phase: 14.09.2022-30.09.2022 & Implementation phase: 02.10.2022-31.10.2022. The focus areas under Campaign 2.0 involves MP’s references, References from state Governments, Inter-Ministerial References, Parliamentary Assurances, PMO References, Public Grievances and Appeals thereof, Record Management and review of the existing rules and procedures to reduce compliance burden and promote ease of living to the citizens.
Secretary  takes weekly review meeting in this regard. The key points discussed during the meeting were the targets & achievements for review of files of various organizations and sections, Status of Parliament Assurances and Specific Replies, Status of Social Media Activities . A detailed discussion on the targets and achievements by Department and its Autonomous bodies were undertaken and they were further motivated to achieve the targets on mission mode.
In addition, on 17.10.2022 under Special Campaign 2.0, officials of DARPG along with team of DD News visited the Kendriya Vidyalaya Andrews Ganj, New Delhi for filming on best practises undertaken particularly on Swachhata activities. The film is slated for telecast on Doordarshan at an early date.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
‘The Next Frontier: India’s Smart Cities’- An upcoming documentary that chronicles the trailblazing journey of India’s Smart Cities Mission
National Geographic, in collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, announces the exclusive film, which premieres on August 15, 2020
Documentary film reveals how the Smart Cities Mission is creating the next generation of cities for tomorrow
With a rural to urban migration rate of 25 to 30 persons per minute, the World Economic Forum has predicted that 70% of India’s population may live in cities by 2050. Today, the country sits at the cusp of transformation, primarily led by the need for modern living, technology and cultural urban migration. Spotlighting the journey of a national initiative that is aiming to transform Indian cities, National Geographic today announced a documentary titled, ‘The Next Frontier: India’s Smart Cities’. The documentary meticulously chronicles the journey of four lighthouse Smart Cities to highlight the importance of ground-breaking innovation to build a stronger nation.
Premiering on Independence Day, August 15, 2020, at 6 pm on National Geographic, the film captures the impact of Smart Cities Mission in the life of a common man, while promising to leave the entire nation with pride. The 44-minute film will focus on four cities  as they present exemplary initiatives and lead the way in various spheres including inter alia: infrastructure, transportation, technology, renewable energy, and restoration and preservation of ancient heritage. The film offers a unique insight into these four exceptional cities as they rise to face the challenges of progressive India by thinking smartly.
“We hope this National Geographic film deepens the understanding about India’s Smart Cities Mission to the world. India is at the cusp of rapid urbanization and our Smart cities are harbinger of new ideas and transformative thinking in India’s urban journey. This film captures a snapshot of their work,” said Shri Durga Shanker Mishra , Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Talking about the film, Anuradha Aggarwal, Head - Infotainment, English, and Kids, Star India, said, “In our upcoming film ‘The Next Frontier: India’s Smart Cities’, we will showcase a national initiative that has transformed the lives of people across four lighthouse cities. Despite burgeoning population, India has been at the centre of this paradigm of development. Viewers will learn about how innovation and technology are catalyzing the growth of our nation and playing an instrumental role in preparing for the needs of the coming future.”
National Geographic’s upcoming film, ‘The Next Frontier: India’s Smart Cities’, will premiere on August 15, 2020, at 6 pm on National Geographic.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves ratification of the Minimum Age Convention, 1973  and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999  of the International Labour Organization 
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for ratification of the two fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization namely, Minimum Age Convention  concerning minimum age for admission to employment and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention  concerning the prohibition and immediate action for elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour. India is a founder member of the International Labour Organization , which came into existence in 1919. At present, the ILO has 187 members. The principal means of action in the ILO is the setting up of International standards in the form of Conventions, Recommendations and Protocol. India has so far ratified 45 Conventions, out of which 42 are in force. Out of these 4 are Fundamental or Core Conventions.
Background:
Government has taken up a multipronged strategy including both stringent legislative and Project based approach to address the concerns related to child labour. However, there is a need to further accentuate its initiatives to ensure a safe and fulfilled future for the children of our country by ensuring proper implementation of the provisions of the Child and Adolescent Labour  Act, 1986 which now completely prohibits employment or work of children below 14 years in any occupation or process. The momentum of the recent initiatives taken to eradicate child labour has to be maintained as elimination of child labour is also crucial for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The ratification of the Convention No 138 and 182 would move a step ahead in the direction of achieving the goal of eradication of child labour from the country as it would be legally binding to comply with the provisions of the Conventions. Presently, Convention 138 has been ratified by 169 countries and Convention 182 has been ratified by 180 countries. Hence, by ratifying these two core conventions, India would join majority of the countries who have adopted the legislation to prohibit and place severe restrictions on the employment and work of children.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Cabinet approves Strengthening of teaching, patient / clinical care and public health programme implementation - Shifting of more experienced doctors belonging to Central Government and Central government entities to teaching / clinical /Public Health Programme implementation activities
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Strengthening of teaching, patient / clinical care and public health programme implementation - Shifting of more experienced doctors belonging to Central Government and Central government entities to teaching/ clinical / Public Health Programme implementation activities.
The approval seeks to ensure that the doctors belonging to Central Health Service  and of other Ministries / Departments / entities of the Central Government, after attaining the age of 62 years, work exclusively in their respective fields of clinical expertise. This would be done by amending the decision of the Union Cabinet taken in its meeting held on 15.06.2016 for removal of difficulties experienced in effective implementation of this decision.
Major Impact:
This will result in capacity building and leadership development of more Central Government doctors besides availability of more experienced doctors for medical education, clinical / patient care services and for implementation of national health programmes.
Beneficiaries:
The decision will make available more experienced doctors for patient / clinical care, medical teaching activities and implementation of National Health Programmes etc., which is likely to benefit society at large.
The benefits of this proposal will percolate down the line throughout the country.
Background:
In order to tackle the problem of shortage of doctors, low joining and high attrition rate in Central Health Service, Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 15.06.2016, approved increase in age of superannuation of doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years. Subsequently, in its meeting held on 27.09.2017, the Union Cabinet increased age of superannuation of doctors working in various other Ministries/Departments including those of Indian Railways, AYUSH, Central Universities and NTs, etc. to 65 years. It is, however, felt that there is a need to make available the services of senior doctors above the age of 62 years for core medical profession, such as, clinical / patient care/ teaching in medical colleges / implementation of health programmes, Public Health programmes & functions, etc.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Navratri Special Programming Boosts DD National Viewership
Ayodhya Ki Ramleela, films based on Ramayan and other Navratri special programming on Doordarshan were a massive hit as viewership on DD National rose to as high as 421% for these special programmes.
Daily live coverage of Dussehra Mahotsav & Aarti from various locations across the country, Ramleela, Ramayan films and special religious shows like Ram Charitramanas drove the viewership on Doordarshan to remarkable heights.
Take a look at how popular were this year’s Navratri celebrations with Doordarshan!
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Audience Estimates
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% Change in Audience Estimates
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Date
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Total Duration
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Viewership
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Reach
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Time Spent
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6th Oct
|
|
3
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151%
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|
90%
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29%
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7th Oct
|
|
4.5
|
|
9%
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13%
|
|
11%
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|
8th Oct
|
|
7.5
|
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108%
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|
61%
|
|
23%
|
|
9th Oct
|
|
7.5
|
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421%
|
|
139%
|
|
81%
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10thOct
|
|
7.5
|
|
120%
|
|
94%
|
|
34%
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11thOct
|
|
7.5
|
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170%
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|
86%
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48%
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12thOct
|
|
7
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238%
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113%
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58%
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13thOct
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7.5
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162%
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92%
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41%
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14thOct
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8.5
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237%
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136%
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55%
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15thOct
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6.5
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123%
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116%
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-7%
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Total
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67 Hrs
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Source: BARC India 2+, HSM. % Change comparison from past 12 week  till 5th Oct 2021
During Navratri, thanks to the special shows, Doordarshan’s reach remained constantly high in comparison to previous weeks. Some days reach were as high as 139%. Viewers’ time spent watching Doordarshan also remained high throughout this period. A total of 67 hours of special programming dedicated to Navratri celebrations was aired on DD National for this period of 10 holy days, with daily average of 6.7 hours.
Celebration of Navratri with Doordarshan had another important aspect to it – Inclusive coverage. Navratri coverage on Doordarshan spanned across regions in the country, from Kumkuma Puja and Alankaram of Kanaka Durga Devi in Vijayawada to Shri Venkateswara Swamy Navratri Brahmotsavams in Tirupati to Aarti of Jhandewalan and Chattarpur Mandir in Delhi to Mahalaya in Kolkata.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT’S GREETINGS ON THE EVE OF BUDDHA PURNIMA
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in her message on the eve of Buddha Purnima has said: -
“On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to the citizens and followers of Lord Buddha all over the world.
Lord Buddha, the epitome of compassion has shown us the path of enlightenment, tolerance and virtue. His simple and effective preaching inspires us to follow the path of love, truth and non-violence. The life of Mahatma Buddha is the best example of self-control and discipline. His teachings continue to guide humanity even today.
On this pious occasion, let us adopt the teachings of Lord Buddha in our mind, word, deed and conduct and work towards building a glorious nation”.
Please click here to see the President's Message in Hindi
Prime Minister's Office
PM flags off five Vande Bharat trains
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off five Vande Bharat Express trains at Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh today. The five Vande Bharat trains are Bhopal  - Indore Vande Bharat Express; Bhopal  - Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express; Ranchi - Patna Vande Bharat Express; Dharwad - Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express and Goa  - Mumbai Vande Bharat Express.
The Prime Minister inspected the first coach of Rani Kamalapati - Indore Vande Bharat Express. He also interacted with children who were onboard and the crew of the train.
The Prime Minister tweeted
"आज भोपाल में पांच वंदे भारत ट्रेनों को एक साथ शुरू करने का सौभाग्य मिला। यह दिखाता है कि देशभर में इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर और कनेक्टिविटी के तेज विकास को लेकर हमारी सरकार कितनी प्रतिबद्ध है।"
Replying to a tweet by Shri Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament from Indore who travelled in Bhopal  - Indore Vande Bharat Express, the Prime Minister congratulated people of Madhya Pradesh and said it will ease the travel for pilgrims going to Ujjain. He tweeted
"मध्य प्रदेश के लोगों को इंदौर-भोपाल के बीच शुरू हुई वंदे भारत ट्रेन की बहुत-बहुत बधाई। इससे जहां उन्हें सुरक्षित और सुविधाजनक यात्रा का लाभ मिलेगा, वहीं धार्मिक नगरी उज्जैन की यात्रा पर जाने वाले भक्तों को भी आसानी होगी।"
Replying to a tweet by Shri Rakesh Singh Member of Parliament from Jabalpur who welcomed the Bhopal  - Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express at Jabalpur, the Prime Minister tweeted that the train will lead to better connectivity between capital Bhopal and cultural capital Jabalpur and will promote tourism and ease the travel for pilgrims.
"देश की शान वंदे भारत ट्रेन से एक ओर जहां मध्य प्रदेश की सांस्कृतिक राजधानी जबलपुर और राज्य की राजधानी भोपाल के बीच कनेक्टिविटी बढ़ेगी, वहीं धार्मिक और पर्यटन स्थलों का भी तेजी से विकास होगा।"
Replying to a tweet by the Member of Parliament from Ranchi Shri Sanjay Seth, Shri Narendra Modi said Ranchi - Patna Vande Bharat Express will help in prosperity of mineral rich Jharkhand and Bihar.
"रांची-पटना के बीच नई वंदे भारत ट्रेन न सिर्फ लोगों की यात्रा को और सुगम बनाएगी, बल्कि यह खनिज संपदा से समृद्ध झारखंड और बिहार की आर्थिक प्रगति में भी मददगार होगी।"
Replying to a tweet by the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant regarding Goa  - Mumbai Vande Bharat Express, the Prime Minister tweeted
"The Vande Bharat train will enable more tourists to discover Goa’s scenic beauty. It will also improve connectivity across the Konkan coast."
Union Minister, Shri Pralhad Joshi and Karnataka Governor Shri Thavarchand Gehlot traveled the Dharwad - Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express. In reply to a tweet by Shri Joshi the Prime Minister tweeted
"The Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will improve connectivity across Karnataka. It will also improve commerce and tourism in the state."
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Myths Vs Facts
Media Reports claiming regulatory approval for Covaxin was rushed due to Political Pressure are Misleading and Fallacious
Scientific approach and prescribed norms adhered to in approving Covid-19 vaccines for Emergency Use Authorization
There have been media reports claiming that Bharat Biotech, manufacturer of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine – Covaxin, “had to skip certain processes” and “speed” up clinical trials due to political pressure. The reports further claim that there were several irregularities in the three phases of the clinical trials conducted for the vaccine. These media reports are completely misleading, fallacious and ill-informed.
It is clarified that Government of India and the national regulator i.e. CDSCO have followed a scientific approach and prescribed norms in approving COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use authorization. The Subject Expert Committee  of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation  met on 1st and 2nd January, 2021 and after due deliberations made recommendations in respect of proposal for Restricted Emergency Approval of COVID-19 virus vaccine of M/s Bharat Biotech. Before Covaxin was approved for restricted emergency use in January 2021, the Subject Expert Committee reviewed the data on safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains. The SEC’s approval for commencement of phase 3 clinical trial of proposed dose of Covaxin was based on scientific data presented by M/s Bharat Biotech and established practices in this regard. Moreover, the purported ‘unscientific changes’ in clinical trials of Covaxin, as claimed in the news reports, were made after submission made by M/s Bharat Biotech in CDSCO, compliance of due process in CDSCO and with approval from the DGCI.
Additionally, later on, based on further submission made by M/s Bharat Biotech and assessment of interim efficacy and safety data by SEC of CDSCO, the condition of administration of COVID-19 vaccine in ‘clinical trial mode’ was removed on 11th March 2021.
Authorization to COVID-19 vaccines including Covaxin for restricted use in emergency situation with various conditions and restrictions were granted by the national regulator only on the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee of CDSCO. The Subject Expert Committee consists of domain knowledge experts from the fields of pulmonology, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, paediatrics, internal medicine, etc.